Naturally Not Pregnant!

Teaching women of all ages and from every walk of life, how to be in tune with their menstrual cycles and how to use this knowledge to either prevent or facilitate pregnancy. Read, learn, feel empowered!

Friday, 10 June 2016

Last time in Part 1 of How to come off hormonal contraceptives smoothly we started our journey to discover the best way transition into drug-free contraception with as little upset as possible to your system. We covered some of the common reasons why women choose to come off them, what changes you can expect during this time and how to predict whether you will be likely to have side effects. This time I have loads of useful information for you about hormonal detoxification and planning your new drug-free approach to contraception!

How can
I clear synthetic hormones from my system?

The two hormones usually used in hormonal
birth control are oestrogen and progesterone, and it appears that excess
oestrogen is the cause of the side effects encountered by most. The liver
is the primary organ responsible for the removal of excess hormones accumulated
during synthetic hormone use. It does this by filtering your blood, drawing out
the excess hormones and binding them to molecules to then be excreted via your bowels.

Here
are some tips to improve hormonal detoxification:

Consume bitter foods and drinks - such as
rocket, chicory, radicchio, bitter melon and dandelion root tea (the chai spice blend is one of my favourites). These improve
liver function and the removal of excess oestrogen through bile.

Increase your dietary fibre – insoluble
fibre (such as that in wheat bran and vegetables) binds with excess oestrogen
in the gut and sweeps it out. Soluble fibre (linseeds, psyllium) also promote
the growth of beneficial bacteria which support hormonal balance.

Eat
moderate amounts of organic fermented
soy – foods such as soy milk, tofu and tempeh all contain phytoestrogens that
competitively inhibit oestrogens produced in the body from adhering to receptor
sites thereby weakening the overall oestrogenic activity in the body.

Eat and drink fermented and cultured
products – such as natural yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha.
These foods have cultures of good bacteria such as Lactobacillus
acidophilus, which
improve oestrogen excretion and hormone regulation.

Eat
more cruciferous vegetables – that’s the cabbage family including all cabbages,
broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. These vegetables contain compounds
called indoles that competitively inhibit oestrogen and inhibit the growth of
breast cancer cells.

Reduce saturated animal fats – many fats
are beneficial, however this specific type of fat causes an increase in an enzyme
that enables oestrogen reabsorption from the gut where it would usually be
excreted in the faeces.

Increase Omega-3 essential fatty acids – These
are the “good fats”; examples include raw or activated nuts, avocados and oily
fish. These will help to reduce excess inflammation and pain (that may cause
side effects such as a period pain and headaches).

Exercise in the sun – this is like killing
two birds with one stone; exercise improves the removal of oestrogen from
tissues and Vitamin D from the sun plays a role in hormonal balance.

Reduce exposure to external sources of
oestrogen – this is a big topic that I will be covering in a future blog so
stay tuned!

Book yourself an acupuncture session – acupuncture
has been shown to be very successful in alleviating many symptoms associated
with hormone disregulation. In particular I have found it useful for irritability,
depression, anxiety, pain and unregulated bleeding.

Book yourself an appointment with an
Herbalist – there are many herbs that act as highly effective agents to assist
in detoxification however it is extremely important that you seek professional
assistance before taking them, as some may not be suitable for your constitution
and can cause more harm than good.

What
nutritional supplements are useful during this time?

I usually base this on a case-by-case
analysis as each patient’s diet and digestion is unique. There is however one
nutritional that I always recommend and that is a really good Vitamin B
complex.

Synthetic hormones deplete your stores of vitamin
B, which is essential in energy production and serotonin production (your happy
hormone). In fact, use of synthetic hormones for more than 5 years has been
shown to progressively deplete folate
(vitamin B9) up to 40%. This is enough to bring about side effects such
as mood and cognition changes, so supplementation is particularly important in
these cases.

What
forms of contraception can I use while I’m still learning the Symptothermal
Method?

As your body returns to balance the best
options for contraception are barrier methods:

Condoms – the male option is popular and is
probably one we are all familiar with. There is also a female version too.

Spermicides – in the form of a cream or a
sponge (impregnated with spermicidal agents) that is placed at the cervix of
the vagina before sex.

Diaphragm – covers the cervix (opening to
the vagina) and must be inserted by your doctor.

Cervical cap – covers the cervix and must
be used in conjunction with spermicides.

I will be writing a future blog on the
efficacy of these forms of contraception so stay tuned for more information.

When
can I start charting my cycles?

You can start charting your cycles straight
away! Usually you will have a withdrawal bleed when you first come off the
hormonal contraception, this is a great time to book your first appointment
with me where you will receive your Naturally Not Pregnant Kit containing
everything you will need including essential rules, charts and complementary
fertility thermometer. I will walk you through the foundations of charting so
that when you have finished bleeding you are fully equipped and ready to start.

It is important to note that as the
hormones will take weeks, maybe months to clear from your system then the first
few months of charting will not be able to be used for contraceptive purposes.
Rather they are your learning, correcting and habit forming months so that you
are confident in your practice. I’m sure you will agree that there is no room
for mistakes and that is why it is so important to learn this technique from
a professional like myself.

How
long will it take for the hormones to leave my system?

This depends on many factors such as:

How long you have been taking the synthetic
hormones for in the first place

Whether you have taken breaks from them during
that time

The current health status of your liver
(quality of diet and alcohol/drug intake closely influence this)

How well you follow the tips given above
and those specific to your case given to you by Dr. Shirley

When
can I start using the Symptothermal Method as my primary form of contraception?

When you have been able to apply the
technique to at least three consecutive cycles and feel confident in applying
the rules to varying situations. Each case is unique and I will let you know
when you are ready. Most commonly it takes 3-5 sessions attended once a month
and after this time I am always available for questions.

Monday, 9 May 2016

For many women, making that decision to come off hormonal contraception can be a bit daunting. My patients who are considering it are always the ones that ask me the most questions concerning their health, so here is the low down. Whether you are ready or still trying to make the decision, these are your most commonly asked questions answered.

What are some of the common reasons women come off
hormonal contraception?

Side effects are
of course a big issue; these might be ones that you experience soon after
starting hormonal contraception, or they may have built up gradually over years as synthetic hormone levels disturb your body’s liver function.

Wanting to fall
pregnant.

Wanting to
rebalance your hormones and take back control of your health and your body.

Relationship concerns
such as poor sex-drive, feeling like the responsibility of contraception has
been on the woman for too long (and it is taking its toll on her
health).

What kind of changes might I expect?

This is hard to predict,
as everyone is unique; some changes will be welcome, while others are more
troublesome.

The most
annoying side effects usually occur if you had them to begin with and were
prescribed synthetic hormones to mask the problem. Examples include:

Acne

Period pain

Heavier bleeding

Headaches

Mildly annoying
side effects:

Your period just disappears! This is usually due to anovulatory cycles because the body has
forgotten how to ovulate and have a period.

Cervical mucus
is non-existent, or sometimes there is just a constant small amount.

Mood changes. This is particularly noticeable if your current synthetic hormones keep your
moods very steady. Naturally throughout the cycle mood will fluctuate in a
regular pattern, this may be strange for someone who has not felt it for a long
time.

Welcome changes
(just to name a few):

An increase in
sex drive

Breast changes
(usually less lumpy)

Less UTIs and
thrush

Better energy
and sleep

Weight loss

Will I have side effects from coming off my hormonal
contraception?

Whether you have side effects when coming off hormonal contraception depends greatly on your
health before you started taking them and your health now. Here are some
examples that tend to increase the chance that side effects may arise:

Starting
hormonal contraception at a young age before your reproductive system was yet
mature (this is usually before 18-20 years-old)

Being on
hormonal contraception for a long-time without a break

Poor health and
nutrition status currently

Never having fallen pregnant before going on hormonal contraception

How can I prevent these side effects?

There are plenty
of things you can do to prevent or minimise the occurrence of untoward effects
and I will be talking about these in detail next week in Part 2 of How to come off hormonal contraceptives
smoothly.

Sunday, 30 August 2015

Perhaps you have been thinking for a while
now that you would like to go natural, reconnect with your cycle and come off hormonal contraception.

You may be nervous and this is
understandable. What will this mean for my body? What will I do for
contraception? How can I do this without getting back my old symptoms?

It is always important to listen to your
body. Most women intuitively feel when it’s the right time for them. Maybe they
are experiencing side effects, maybe they are thinking about their
future fertility, or maybe they just don’t feel right about taking the synthetic hormones anymore.

What ever your reasons, with the help of
your doctor and a fertility awareness instructor like myself you can safely and
smoothly come off hormonal contraception and integrate into healthy baby-free cycles with
Naturally Not Pregnant’s fertility awareness programs.

What
happens to my body when I come off hormonal contraception?

When you are taking hormonal contraception you are taking
high levels of hormones that are very similar to the ones your body makes
itself, they are just synthetic. Because your brain recognizes that you have
high levels of hormones circulating though your system it tells your ovaries
not to bother making any more.

If you are taking a pill that is 21 days on
and 7 days off (sugar pills), then from the moment you start taking the sugar
pills your brain realizes that your hormone levels are dropping and this begins
the shedding of the uterus lining.

Remember this is not a true period because
you have not ovulated, the pill will have prevented this; rather it is called a
“withdrawal bleed”. This process is the body’s natural response to a drop in
hormones and it is how a real period is triggered in a true cycle also.

After
coming off the pill you will have your usual withdrawal bleed.

Then, after 7 or so days your body may do
one of two things:

Realise that you are no longer taking
synthetic hormones and start making its own again.

Not realise that you are no longer taking
any synthetic hormones, and be too sleepy and lazy to begin making its own
again!

In the first scenario, you may find that your body quickly gets its groove back and your
period (a real period!) comes roughly 28 days later.

This is great news and always the more
favourable outcome after coming off hormonal contraception!It means that your brain and your
ovaries remember their true purpose and you are healthy and fertile.

This is not always the case however, and
often, after many years of synthetic hormone use the body will take some time
to recover.Like a conductor leading a symphony, the brain must orchestrate the
release of many key hormones and neurotransmitters in order for the menstrual
cycle to flow correctly.

After coming off the pill many women will
have a combination of hormone deficiencies and/or excesses; this is what causes cycle irregularities.

If this is the case, you may find that your
period takes 6-8 weeks to return and when it does it is irregular for months. During
this time however it is not uncommon to notice some hormonal signs that your
body is trying to figure things out.

In the second scenario, an essential process in the healthy functioning of the menstrual
cycle has stopped working.

Your hypothalamus, sleepy after being dormant
for so long while on the pill, forgets that it should be giving out regular
pulses of a hormone called gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH’s job
is to stimulate the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and
luteinizing hormone (LH), which in turn stimulate oestrogen and progesterone to
be released from your ovaries.

Sometimes it takes time for your hypothalamus
to wake up; up to 12 months in not unusual. Certain
herbs, acupuncture and a little bit of patience can be very helpful in this instance.

Coming up in a couple weeks time we will be covering what you can do to ensure your body is recovering after the burdens of hormonal contraception.

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

"63.7% of women go off the pill within the first year due to unwanted side effects"

The pill. A combination of two synthetic hormones designed to prevent fertility. There is no denying that the feminist movement that it provoked in the 60's was a revolution. But where do we, as a society, striving for equality, honesty and freedom stand with the current mainstream attitude towards fertility and contraception?

"Is it fair to have to compromise your health in order to be responsible?"

"How can something that severs you from your most primal and natural identity be empowering?"

These are the questions Abby Epstein and Ricky Lake are asking in their upcoming documentary, "Sweetening the Pill".

Many don't realise that the pill was the first medical drug designed and approved, that is made specifically for healthy people to take. That is, people who aren't sick take this drug and it makes them less healthy.

Paradoxical, and yet so widely accepted! Possibly because it was not fully explained to us when we were advised to take it by our doctors - who we trust!

I was not one of those people. I knew what I was signing myself up for the day I went to the doctors and asked for a prescription for the pill.

But I also felt like I had no other option. We didn't want to use condoms. We didn't want to have children.

"It is not in anyway that you are regulating your cycle with birth control, you have no cycle anymore..."

All women are altered by these drugs, some more profoundly than others. I was one of those women. I'm very sensitive, to the point where I cant even drink a cup of tea at breakfast without it sending me on a high that will prevent me from sleeping that night!

What was I thinking!

Thats how I discovered fertility awareness based contraception. Thats how I came to teach it to any women who wants to learn. That is how I embraced freedom, and that, is why I love what I do.

"Knowing how your body works, that sounds to me like true independence"

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

The cervix produces a protective lubricant
that is commonly termed, cervical mucus. This mucus changes slightly in colour,
amount and texture throughout your cycle and is completely normal!

By normal I mean that it is a healthy
representation of the secretions from the cervix (just a fancy name for the
opening of your uterus) that fluctuate with changing hormone levels.

What is its purpose?

To protect and moisten the lining of your
cervix and vagina. All the mucus membranes that make up the barrier between the
external world and your body are lined with a fluid; the mucus membranes in
your mouth are protected by saliva, your ears have wax, your nose has, well, more mucus!

Cervical mucus produced during the
“infertile phase” of your cycle has another protective role, it creates a plug
over the opening of the uterus, which apart from stopping nasties such as germs
and dirt from getting up into the uterus and causing infection, it also stops
sperm from being able to enter the uterus.

Imagine it is like a natural
diaphragm! But not only is this natural diaphragm a barrier, it has an acidic
pH that acts as a spermicide, rendering those little guys completely useless!

Cervical mucus produced during the “fertile
phase” of your cycle however, is completely the opposite! It is more basic
(alkaline) and therefore dissolves the acidic plug, exposing the entry point to
the uterus and allowing the passage of sperm towards the egg.

It is much more
fluid and slippery, which sperm love! They wriggle their tails around, exactly
like a tadpole and within as little as 30 minutes can have swam up though the
vagina, uterus and down a fallopian tube to fertilise a waiting egg!

What are the different types?

Basically when I teach my patients and NNP
clients to recognise the different types of cervical mucus I break it down into
4 categories:

Infertile Cervical Mucus:As detailed above
this mucus acts as a natural diaphragm and spermicide. It is usually thick,
white, pasty and unchanging in amount. Some women describe it as UHU (the glue
stick!) as it can be sticky and tacky, and dries as a white crust on your
underwear.

You may notice this type of mucus in the couple
of days after your period has finished and again after ovulation has occurred
(see the green petals in the diagram).

Possibly Fertile Cervical Mucus: This mucus
is the “change-over” mucus, it varies greatly for different women ranging from
clear, thin and watery to creamy white and lumpy.

Remember, every woman is
different and when you learn the NNP technique you are learning how to read your
individual pattern of fertility.

This mucus only lasts 2-6 days in the lead up
the ovulation (see the orange petals)

Fertile and Very Fertile Cervical Mucus:
These cervical mucus types should be treated with the utmost reverence!

For
those who are wishing to fall pregnant it is the most desirable and exciting
cervical mucus to discover.

But for those who are practicing the NNP technique it is a dangerous couple of days when barrier methods should be
employed.

This type of cervical
mucus is profuse, wet, slippery and may even be stretchy like egg-white. It is
short lasting, from a couple of hours to 3 days (See the red petals on the
diagram).

What about when you are on the pill?

Just as women taking the pill or any other
synthetic hormonal contraception do not get periods because they are not
ovulating (they simply have a what is called a withdrawal bleed) they also do
not get fluctuations in cervical mucus types.

A woman taking synthetic hormones
will only experience one type of cervical mucus, and that is the Infertile
type.

Would you like to learn how to use this knowledge to prevent or facilitate pregnancy?

All NNP Programs teach:

How to achieve contraception though
monitoring changes in cervical mucus.

More detail about the cervical mucus types.

When you must use protection if you are
interested in contraception (or when to have lots of sex if you want to have
babies!)

How to recognise hormonal imbalances such as low levels of cervical mucus. This can be remedied easily with herbs, nutrients and/or diet and lifestyle changes.